Condensing unit for refrigeration systems



W. W. HIGHAM CONDENSING UNIT FOR REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS e sheets-sheet 1 Filed March 5, 1946 GHAM INVENTOR WILLRAM W.

ATTORNEY m A H m H w w CONDENSING UNIT FOR REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed March 5, 1946 a I I FIG. 2

INVENTOR HAM WILLIAM W.

w ATTORNEY f 1950 w. w. HIGHAM 2,52

CONDENSING UNIT FOR REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS Filed March 5, 1946 6 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR WILLIAM W. HIGHAM BY I ATTORNEY 4 RH MA mm N 4 m mH m 2 w W n 5. mM A z e w m m W FIG.

FIG. 8

w w HIGHAM coxmsnsms UNIT FOR REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS Filed March 5, 1946 Oct. 3, 1950 w. w. HIGHAM 2,524,225

CONDENSING UNIT FOR REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS Filed March 5, 1946 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR WILLIAM W. HIGHAM ,ATTORNEY Patented Oct. 3, 1950 CONDENSING UNIT FOR REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS William W. Hlgham, Marion, Ohio, assignor to Newport Steel Corporation, a corporation of Indiana Application March 5, 1946, Serial No. 652,025

1 Claims.

The invention relates to refrigeration and to refrigerating apparatus. Numerous attempts have been made heretofore to design a compact, eflicient refrigerating unit. The invention described herein, while relating in general to refrigerating apparatus, is directed more especially to refrigerating apparatus of the type in which the condenser unit and the compressor unit are positioned beneath the cooling chamber or cabinet and in which the evaporating unit is positioned in the coolin chamber. In the refrigerating apparatus described herein, air is caused to flow by a natural draft upward through the bottom of the support around the compressor and outward around and between the condenser coils.

One of the objects of my invention is to provide a more compact and efficient refrigerating apparatus of the compressor-condenser-expander type.

A further object of my invention is the improvement of louvers and the provision of a louver type condenser unit in which there are provided a plurality of tubes each formed substantially as an arc of a circle and each connected to a plurality of other tubes, each tube having connected thereto a fin serving both as means for directing air flow and as an aid in cooling the fluid flowing through the tube.

Features of my invention include the specific construction of the louver type condenser and the arrangements by which the ends of the arcual tubes are connected in certain embodiments to the adjacent ends of the other tubes.

Further objects and features of my invention will be apparent from a consideration of the following specification and claims in connection with the accompanying drawings which illustrate several embodiments of my invention.

In the drawings:

Fig. l is a view partly in elevation and partly in section showing a refrigerator constructed according to my invention but having portions omitted and portions broken away and having portions shown in section to illustrate the interior of the support and the air flow therein;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary view in section on a larger scale of a portion of the apparatus shown in Fig. 1, portions being broken away;

Fig. 3 is a view in horizontal section taken substantially on the line 3-3 of Fig. 6, the compressor unit, the liquid refrigerant accumulator- 2 showing the construction of one form of louver in which a fin is welded to the tube;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary top plan view of the condenser unit; a

Fig. 6 is a view partly in elevation showing the apparatus of Fig. 1 but having portions broken away and portions shown in section to illustrate certain details;

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary view in elevation showing a return bend elbow for connecting adjacent portions of the condenser unit;

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary view in elevation showing an alternate form of condenser unit;

Fig. 9 is a view partly in elevation and partly in section showin details of the construction of the tubes and fins shown in Fig. 8 on an enlarged scale;

Fig. 10 is a detailed view on an enlarged scale showing the construction of another style of the louvers and the cover plate associated therewith;

and

Fig. 11 is a sectional view on a smaller scale showing another view of the, louvers which are shown in Fig. 10 as they appear adjacent one of the supporting legs.

Referring now in detail to the drawings and first to Figs. 1 and 6, it may be seen that I have shown a refrigerator comprising a cooling unit or cabinet ii supported on legs or supports it. Surrounding the supports is the condenser is and within the enclosure formed by the con denser i8 is the compressor it which is supported on cross bars 25. The bars 25 are secured to a base formed by an annulus 2i which is supported by sliders 24. As is shown by the arrows in Fig. 1, air is drawn in under the annulus or base 2| and through the center of the annulus. This air is heated by contact with the compressor "5 and with the tubes and fins of the condenser I 8. The warm air tending to rise is forced out around the tubes and fins of the condenser 18, thus creating a natural draft of air.

In the cooling unit or cabinet I l is anevaporator generally designated as [2 (see Fig. 6) connected by a conduit 13 to a liquid refrigerant accumulator or receiver i4 and by a conduit 15 to a compressor unit I6. The compressor unit it is connected also by an outlet conduit I! (see Figs. 5 and 6) with the upper portion of the condenser l8. The refrigerant, which has been cooled and liquified in the condenser unit I8, is conducted from the lower part of the condenser unit to the receiver by a conduit 32. The condenser I8 is one portion of the refrigerating unit with which I am especially concerned in this application and it will be described in complete detail later in this application.

Referring to Figs. 1, 2, 3 and 6 especially for details of construction of the refrigerator as a whole, it may be seen that the unit I I is supported by a plurality of supports I9 some of which are shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 6 and all of which are shown in section in Fig. 3. As may be seen in Fig. 3, the supports I9 at their lower end are secured to a flanged annulus or base 2|. The annulus 2|, as may be seen in Figs. 2 and 6 is formed as an angle iron and the supports I9 are secured to the vertical portion of the annulus by bolts such as 22 and to the horizontal portion of the annulus by bolts such as 23. The annular base or annulus 2I together with the supports or legs I9 form a support for the cooling unit II. The base 2| rests upon a series of sliders 24 through which the entire unit rests upon the floor. It may be noted that air may enter in the space beneath the base 2| and go up into the interior of the unit through the relatively large opening in the center of the annular base. In passing up through the unit it follows the direction shown by the arrows in Fig. l flowing around the compressor unit I6 and out through the openings between the tubes of the condenser unit I8. The fact that the air is heated by the compressor I6 and the condenser I8, insures the formation of convection currents. Secured to the upper side of the base 2| are a pair of compressor supporting bars 25. The compressor I8 is secured to the bars 25 by brackets such as bracket 25A.

As may be seen in Figs. 1 and 6 the condenser I8 comprises a plurality of tubes such as the tubes 26, 21, 28, 29, 30 and 3|. The upper tube 26 is connected by the conduit I! to the outlet for the compressor I6. The lower tube 3| is connected by a conduit 32 with the receiver I4. The tube 26 is also connected by a return elbow such as the elbow shown at 33 (Fig. with the tube 21 and the tube 21 by an elbow such as the elbow 34 to the tube 28. The tube 28 is connected by a similar elbow with the tube 29, and the tube 29 by a similar elbow with the tube 30. The tube 30 is connected by a similar elbow with the tube 3|. The construction of the elbows is shown more clearly in Fig. 7 wherein the elbow 36 is shown on a larger scale in side elevation. The connection of the tube 26 with the conduit I! and of the conduit 32 with the condenser are indicated also in Fig. 5. Connected to each of the tubes 26, 21, 28, 29, 30 and 3| is a curved strip of metal which extends throughout the length of the tube and forms a cooling fin. This strip is secured to the tube as by welding, it being understood that the tube preferably is of copper, but that the fin is preferably formed of some other heat conducting metal such as a steel alloy. Thus as may be seen in Fig. 4, the tube 25 has welded thereto a fin 3B. As shown in Fig. 3 the bars 25 are formed with holes 31 by which the brackets 25A are secured thereto.

As may be seen in Fig. 6, the tubes 21, 28, 29, 30 and 3| also each have one of the fins 39, 4|, 42, 43 and 44 respectively secured thereto. Between the ends of the tubes 26, 21, 28, 29, 30 and 3| is an open space 50 (see Fig. 3) through which access may be had to the compressor I6. A cover plate 45 is provided to close this opening except when it is desired to obtain access to compressor I6. Each of the supports I9 has bolted or otherwise secured to it a thin strip 41 and the fins 39, 4|, 42, 43 and 44 are all secured to the strips 41 as by welding.

In the embodiment shown in Figs. 10 and 11, the portions I26, I21, I28, I23, I30 and I3| may be formed of one continuous tube bent so as to return in such portions parallel to each other, the portion I26 thereof having secured thereto a fin I38, the portion I21 having secured thereto a fin I39, the portion I28 having secured thereto a fin I4I, the portion I29 having secured thereto a fin I42, the portion I30 having secured thereto a fin I43, and the portion I3I having secured thereto a fin I44. In this embodiment the fins such as I38 are welded to the associated tubes, but it may be noted that the fins are curved to contact a larger section of the tubes than in the structure shown in Fig. 4.

In Fig. 10 I have illustrated a manner of conmeeting a cover plate I45 to the fin I38 which is secured to the tube I26. It may be seen that a bracket I46 is welded to the upper part of the fin I38 and is provided with an ear I41 in which is secured the upper part of the cover plate I45. The curves of the cover plate I45 conform to the curves of the upper portion of the fins I39, I4I, I42, I43 and I44 as well as the curve of the fin I38. The purpose of the cover plate I45 is similar to the cover plate 45 shown in Fig. 5.

In Figs. 8 and 9 I have shown another embodiment of my invention, the embodiment having a different form of louvers in which the tubes and the fins are made integral. For example, in Figs. 8 and 9 I discloses a condenser having tubes such as 226 with which there are integral fins such as the fins 238. Return elbows 236 are welded to the ends of the tubes 226 to connect them alternately one to the other.

While in the embodiments disclosed the condenser unit is shown as only partially surrounding the compressor, it is to be understoodthat if other means are provided for access to the compressor or if no access to the compressor is desired the condenser may entirely surround the compressor unit. In such case for example the condenser tube could be formed as a continuous coil.

The operation of my improved refrigerating apparatus is conventional. Cooling fluid i. e., gaseous refrigerant is compressed in the compressor I6 and passed from the compressor to the condenser I8 Where it condenses forming a liquid, then after passing through the receiver I4, passes on to the evaporator I2 in the cooling chamber and there is expanded to cool the cooling chamber. After expansion, it is drawn into the top of the compressor I6 and again compressed. One important part of my improvement consists of the specific shape of the condenser so that cooling air drawn into the lower part of the compressor chamber not only passes over the compressor and cools the compressor, but also passes upward and outward through the openings between the tubes of the condenser and there contacts with the fins of the condenser so as to cool the fluid therein. It is to be especially noted that the-cooling air, in passing over the condenser, passes outward and not inward. Thus the air which passes over the compressor for keeping it cool, is cool air from the outside and embodiments of my invention are for the purpose of illustration only and various changes may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention.

, I claim:

1. For use in a refrigeration apparatus of the compressor condenser expander type. a condenser comprising a plurality of curved tubes extending throughout the greater part of the circumference of a circle, alternate ends of tubes in contact with said curved tube and in contact with said fln in order to cool the refrigerant within said condenser; a conduit connecting said being joined to each other; and means comprising a metallic fin secured to each of said tubes for directing air upward around said tube and outward from the center of the circumference.

2. For use in a refrigeration apparatus of the compressor condenser expander type, a condenser comprising a, plurality of substantially parallel curved tubes extending throughout the greater part of the circumference of a circle, alternate ends of tubes being joined to each other by an elbow fitting; and means comprising a metallic fin secured to each of said tubes for directing air upward around said tube and outward from the center of the circumference.

3. A refrigerator comprising a unit to be cooled having therein an evaporator; a support for said unit to be cooled, said support having an opening in the bottom thereof through which air may enter into said support, said support being substantially cylindrical; a compressor unit positioned within said support and arranged within the path of air flowing in said bottom opening; a condenser comprising a curved tube surrounding at least the greater part of said support and compressor unit; means comprising a fin secured to the tube for directing air being heated in a path of flow upward, around and in contact with said tube and around and in contact with said fin in order to cool the refrigerant within said condenser; a conduit connecting said evaporator to said compressor; a conduit connecting said compressor unit to said condenser; and a conduit for connecting said condenser to said evaporator.

4. A refrigerator comprising a unit to be cooled having therein an evaporator; a cylindrical support for said unit to be cooled, said support having an opening in the bottom thereof through which air may enter into said support; a compressor unit within said support and arranged within the path of air flowing in said bottom opening; a condenser comprising a plurality of substantially parallel tubes surrounding the greater part of the support and having fins secured thereto for directing air being heated in its flow in a path upward around, and in contact with said tube and around and in contact with said fins in order to cool the refrigerant within said condenser; a conduit connecting said compressor unit to said condenser; a conduit connecting said compressor to the evaporator; and a conduit for connecting said evaporator to the compressor.

5. A refrigerator unit comprising a unit to be cooled having therein an expansion type cooling unit; a support for said unit to be cooled, said support having an opening in the bottom thereof through which air may enter into said support; a compressor within said support and arranged within the path of air flowing in said bottom opening; a condenser comprising a curved tube at least partially surrounding said support and said compressor unit; means comprising a fin secured to the tube of said condenser for directing air being heated in a path of flow around and evaporator to said compressor; a conduit connecting said compressor unit to said condenser; and a conduit for connecting said condenser to said evaporator.

6. A refrigerator unit comprising a unit to be cooled having therein an evaporator; a support for said unit to be cooled. said support having an opening in the bottom thereof through which air may enter into said support; a compressor secured to said support and arranged within the path of air flowing in said bottom opening; a condenser comprising a curved tube at least partially surrounding said support and said compressor unit; means comprising a fin secured to the tube of said condenser for directing air being heated in a path of flow upward and outward 'around and in contact with said curved tube and in contact with said fin in order to cool the refrigerant within said condenser; a conduit connecting said evaporator to said compressor; a conduit connecting said compressor unit to said condenser; and a conduit for connecting said condenser to said evaporator; said fin forming both a shield for protecting said tube from accidental blows and a cover ,for hiding said compressor and conduits from view.

7. A refrigerator comprising a unit to be cooled having therein an evaporator; a cylindrical support for said unit to be cooled, said support comprising an annular base and a plurality of vertically extending legs and sliders secured beneath said annular base and said support having an opening in the bottom of said annular base through which air may enter into said support; a compressor unit within said support and arranged within the path of air flowing in said bottom opening; a condenser'comprising a plurality of substantially parallel tubes surrounding the greater part of the support and a plurality of fins secured to said tubes for directing air being heated in its flow in a path upward and outward around, and in contact with said tubes and in contact with said fins in order to cool the refrigerant within said condenser; a conduit connecting said compressor unit to said condenser; a conduit connecting said condenser to the evaporator; and a. conduit for connecting said evaporator to the compressor.

8. A refrigerator comprising a unit to be cooled having therein an evaporator; a support forsaid unit to be cooled, said support being raised above the floor and having an opening in the bottom thereof through which air may enter into said support, said support being substantially cylindrical; a compressor unit within said support and arranged within the path of air flowing in said bottom opening; a condenser comprising a curved tube surrounding at least the greater part of said support and compressor unit; means comprising a fin secured to the tube for directing air being heated in a path of flow upward and outward, around and in contact with said tube and around and in contact with said fin in order to cool the refrigerant within said condenser; a conduit connecting said evaporator to said compressor; a conduit connecting said compressor unit to said condenser; and a conduit for connecting said condenser to said evaporator.

9. A compressor-condenser mechanism for use in combination with a cooling unit disposed directly thereabove, comprising supporting means, a compressor and a condenser supported by the means, said condenser comprising a plurality of elongated and substantially horizontally extending and vertically spaced tube sections disposed along the from: and opposite sides of the compressor, and elongated metallic'flns, one for each of said sections secured to the respective section, said fins each extending upwardly and outwardly from the tube section to which it is secured, said fins being vertically spaced from one another providing a plurality of vertically spaced air outlet openings, said support having an inlet for air intermediate the compressor and tube sections.

10. A compressor-condenser mechanism for use in combination with a cooling unit disposed directly thereabove, comprising supporting means, a compressor and a condenser supported by the means, said condenser comprising a plurality of elongated and substantially horizontally extending and vertically spaced tube sections disposed along the front and opposite sides of the compressor, and elongated metallic fins, one for each of said sections secured to the respective section, said fins each including a portion extending downwardly and a portion extending upwardly and outwardly from the tube section to which it 25 is secured, said fins being arranged in overlapping relation with the tin next adjacent thereto and spaced therefrom providing a plurality of vertically spaced air outlet openings, said support having an inlet for air intermediate the compressor and tube sections.

WILLIAM W. HIGHAM.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 729,398 Osenbruck May 28, 1903 1,589,412 Mitchell June 22, 1926 1,852,828 Steenstrup Apr. 5, 1932 2,153,267 Morse Apr. 4, 1939 2,205,984 Kromas June 25, 1940 2,277,921 McCullough et al. Mar. 31, 1942 2,292,033 Atchison Aug. 4, 1942 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 729,316 France Apr. 25, 1932 

